Home testing - how often?

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Zee

Zee

Member Since 2019
hello there to all experienced home testers.

I wish to spare Mum the stress of vet visits and am considering testing at home.
How often do you test? Every day? Twice a day?
Advise much appreciated.

Zee and Mum.
 
You should test before every shot. Have you been told otherwise?
None of us want to scare you away or criticize your vet but it's something that needs to be done. I nearly jumped out the window the first time a tech showed me what I had to do but it doesn't have to be that way for you.
 
Zee said:
hello there to all experienced home testers.

I wish to spare Mum the stress of vet visits and am considering testing at home.
How often do you test? Every day? Twice a day?
Advise much appreciated.

Zee and Mum.
Click to expand...

Testing is harder than giving the insulin for me...but both get easier.

I had time before I had enough money to buy the insulin so I spent that time watching EVERY video on youtube demonstrating how to test and inject a cat.

Some of them contradicted each other but overall it was helpful to see it being done.

Make sure the ear is warm, a rice sock or warm washcloth can help warm it up.
Make sure you find the diagram that shows the "sweet spot" on the ear to test.
Have some carb free treats to give after so they associate it with something good.




You can do it.
 
Noah & me (GA) said:
You should test before every shot. Have you been told otherwise?
None of us want to scare you away or criticize your vet but it's something that needs to be done. I nearly jumped out the window the first time a tech showed me what I had to do but it doesn't have to be that way for you.
Click to expand...

No window to jump out of... on ground floor level.. I’m not currently home testing but thinking of doing it. Mum cat is an utter darling and is very good with my injections.. not sure how she’ll react at her human turning into a torturer....
 
Zee, Mum and Eric. I put some people off with my poor choice of words. We all started somewhere and we are all here to help. Two cats and many years ago I stood in my vet's office with my mouth hanging open, my intent is for you to not have that same experience. I wish I had found this corner of sanity much earlier.
 
Not put off in the least! Very grateful for any guidance.. your boy is gorgeous!
 
He was a very handsome lad, thank you.
I shouldn't be clogging up the works but this was our first diabetic with some kind of strange dog that originated in a far away place called the U.K. Something to do with sheep. Click on the photo and it gets bigger.
(We're from the colonies, the majority of people here are from the U.S.) Time for some Haggis! :rolleyes:
hannah_nigel02 (3).JPG
 
Ah thank you. Your boy not with you... so sorry.. - you wouldn’t want to be in the colonies now... the news will make your toes curl....
 
It doesn't have to be stressful! I say that but we honestly have the most easy going buddy. If his brother ever gets the sugar we'll be in a world of literal pain.

On weekdays we test 3-4 times. Before shots in AM and PM, one on Dads lunch if he can swing it, and one before bed, usually around PM+4. It helps me get to sleep if I know he's not dropping off the sugar deep end. On weekends when we're home we test more.

We struggled at the beginning but finally have the hang of it.

We start with lots of pets and scritchies in his designated testing spot with a fuzzy blanket. We do it on the couch because it lowers his chances for scampering off. After he is in full on purr mode, we do the poke.

Some days he minds it less. Some days I go into it stressed and late for work, which stresses him out big time.

Always always have a treat ready for when they finish. Give lots of praise and pets.

When we first started this journey and were struggling to test, I would hear about cats who come when called or at the sound of the strip bottle being shaken. NO WAY, I thought. At this point Gato comes when he hears the sound and sees the treat, sometimes he'll even jump onto the couch.
 
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MamaMug said:
It doesn't have to be stressful! I say that but we honestly have the most easy going buddy. If his neither ever gets the suffer we'll be in a weird of literal pain.

On weekdays we test 3-4 times. Before shots in AM and PM, one on Dads lunch if he can swing it, and one before bed, usually around PM+4. It helps me get to sleep if I know he's not dropping off the sugar deep end.

We struggled at the beginning but finally have the hang of it.

We start with lots of pets and scritchies in his designated testing spot with a fuzzy blanket. We do it on the couch because it lowers his chances for scampering off. After he is in full on purr mode, we do the poke.

Some days he minds it less. Some days I go into it stressed and late for work, which stresses him out big time.

Always always have a treat ready for when they finish. Give lots of praise and pets.

When we first started this journey and were struggling to test, I would hear about cats who come when called or at the sound of the strip bottle being shaken. NO WAY, I thought. At this point Gato comes when he hears the sound and sees the treat, sometimes he'll even jump onto the couch.
Click to expand...


Thank you.. I’m a bit of a nervous wreck at the moment being a newbie.... how do you calculate the correct dose?
 
One more tip! Our guy has dark fur on the backs of his ears so we've found it easier to go in through the front. When doing this, I've found that he gets freaked out if you put your hand too much in front or reaching over his face. I kind of go in from the top or side for my tissue/gauze pad and this eases his nerves.
 
Zee said:
Thank you.. I’m a bit of a nervous wreck at the moment being a newbie.... how do you calculate the correct dose?
Click to expand...

I'm not your best bet on dosing, but there are a lot of kind and knowledgeable folks here who are more experienced with that. We're still trying to figure out dosing as well and have found this site to be a godsend. It's overwhelming at first but you're in the right place!
 
Phew.. thank you for all the good advise.. whilst I’m quacking here Madam cat is happily snoring...
 
Thank you ladies.. however I’m using Caninsulin presently. Will post on their forum...
 
Zee said:
however I’m using Caninsulin presently. Will post on their forum.
Click to expand...
oops..!
misread your post - sorry. :rolleyes::oops:
The Caninsulin sub-Forum isn't very active as I see it so perhaps post here on the Main Health Forum but make sure to include "Caninsulin Dosing Question" (once you have it) in your title to get the most experienced eyes.
Left of the title line has drop down arrow - click and choose question mark as the prefix for your post - people tend to look in more often if there is a question mark in the title.
Best of luck to you and your kitty.
 
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